Kenneth Marende

Kenneth Otiato Marende, born 7 January 1956, was the Speaker of the National Assembly of Kenya's 10th Parliament. He was elected Speaker on January 15, 2008. Prior to his election as Speaker, Hon. Marende served as the MP for Emuhaya constituency, from 2002 to 2007.

In the first round of voting, Marende, who was the candidate of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) for the position of Speaker, received 104 votes, while the government's candidate, Francis ole Kaparo, received 99 votes; in the second round Marende received 104 votes and Kaparo received 102. Although a two-thirds majority was required in the first two rounds, subsequently only a simple majority was required, and Marende was elected in the third round with 105 votes against 101 for Kaparo.[3]

He was elected to his first term as an MP for Emuhaya Constituency on a NARC party ticket in the 2002 election.[4] He retained his seat in the 2007 election, but his election as Speaker meant that his seat was left vacant, requiring a by-election in his constituency.[5] The by-election was held in June, 2008 and was won by Wilber Otichilo of ODM.[6]

In the 9th Parliament he was notable for supporting an amendment to the Sex offense bill that decriminalized marital rape. He made the famous quote on the floor of parliament that "Kenyans can still have sex with their partners even when they are asleep so long as they are married".[7]

In April 2009, when parliament re-opened, he was forced to make a tough ruling on who should be the Leader of Government Business due to an impasse between the President and the Prime Minister. In his historic ruling, he temporarily appointed himself, based on parliament standing orders as the Chair of the House Business Committee until the impasses is resolved.[8]